LeCroy WaveRunner 6Zi Getting Started Manual

Getting Started

Manual

WaveRunner 6 Zi

Oscilloscopes

WaveRunner 6 Zi

Oscilloscopes

February, 2011

LeCroy Corporation

700 Chestnut Ridge Road
Chestnut Ridge, NY, 10977-6499
Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]

Warranty

NOTE: THE WARRANTY BELOW REPLACES ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED

WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS, OR ADEQUACY FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE. LECROY SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY

SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE. THE CUSTOMER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE

TRANSPORTATION AND INSURANCE CHARGES FOR THE RETURN OF PRODUCTS TO THE SERVICE FACILITY. LECROY WILL RETURN ALL PRODUCTS

UNDER WARRANTY WITH TRANSPORT PREPAID.

The oscilloscope is warranted for normal use and operation, within specifications, for a period of three years from shipment. LeCroy will either

repair or, at our option, replace any product returned to one of our authorized service centers within this period. However, in order to do this we

must first examine the product and find that it is defective due to workmanship or materials and not due to misuse, neglect, accident, or abnormal

conditions or operation.

LeCroy shall not be responsible for any defect, damage, or failure caused by any of the following: a) attempted repairs or installations by personnel

other than LeCroy representatives or b) improper connection to incompatible equipment, or c) for any damage or malfunction caused by the use of

non-LeCroy supplies. Furthermore, LeCroy shall not be obligated to service a product that has been modified or integrated where the modification

or integration increases the task duration or difficulty of servicing the oscilloscope. Spare and replacement parts, and repairs, all have a 90-day

warranty.

The oscilloscope’s firmware has been thoroughly tested and is presumed to be functional. Nevertheless, it is supplied without warranty of any kind

covering detailed performance. Products not made by LeCroy are covered solely by the warranty of the original equipment manufacturer.

Internet: www.lecroy.com
© 2011 by LeCroy Corporation. All rights reserved.

LeCroy, ActiveDSO, JitterTrack, WavePro, WaveMaster, WaveSurfer, WaveLink, WaveExpert, Waverunner, and
WaveAce are registered trademarks of LeCroy Corporation. Other product or brand names are trademarks or
requested trademarks of their respective holders. Information in this publication supersedes all earlier
versions. Specifications are subject to change without notice.

Manufactured under an ISO

9000 Registered Quality

Management System.

Visit www.lecroy.com to

view the certificate.

This electronic product is subject to disposal and

recycling regulations that vary by country and region.

Many countries prohibit the disposal of waste

electronic equipment in standard waste receptacles.

For more information about proper disposal and

recycling of your LeCroy product, please visit

www.lecroy.com/recycle.

WR6Zi-GSM-E RevA

918908-00 RevA

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Welcome ........................................................................ 2

WaveRunner 6 Zi Features .......................................... 2

Core Oscilloscope Functions ....................................... 2

Compatible Options and Accessories ......................... 2

Reference .................................................................... 2

Support ....................................................................... 2

Thank You ................................................................... 3

Safety Requirements .................................................. 3

Safety Symbols ............................................................ 3

Operating Environment .............................................. 5

Safety Certification ..................................................... 6

Cooling ........................................................................ 7

AC Power Source......................................................... 7

Power Consumption ................................................... 8

Power and Ground Connections ................................. 8

Calibration................................................................. 11

Cleaning .................................................................... 11

Abnormal Conditions ................................................ 12

Hardware ..................................................................... 13

Front Panel ................................................................ 13

Rotating and Tilting the Display ................................ 14

I/O Panel ................................................................... 17

Back Panel ................................................................. 18

Basic Controls ............................................................... 19

Hardware and Software Controls ............................. 19

Front Panel Controls ................................................. 19

Front Panel Groupings .............................................. 20

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Trigger Front Panel Controls .................................... 21

Horizontal Front Panel Controls ............................... 23

Vertical Front Panel Controls ................................... 23

Math, Zoom, and Memory Indicators and Controls 24

The WavePilot Control Area and The SuperKnob .... 25

Probe and Signal Connection Interfaces ....................... 32

Probe and Signal Connection Interfaces Overview .. 32

Probe Interfaces ....................................................... 33

Probe Interfaces Overview ....................................... 33

ProBus Probe and Cable Connecting Interface ........ 35

Probes ...................................................................... 36

Passive Probe Compensation ................................... 37

Display Dashboard........................................................ 38

Display Dashboard Overview ................................... 38

Screen Layout, Groupings, and Controls .................. 38

Menu Bar .................................................................. 39

The Quick Access Toolbar ........................................ 39

The Signal Display Grid ............................................. 40

Signal Display Grid Pop-Up Menu ............................ 42

Trace Descriptor Labels ............................................ 42

Actions for Trace Buttons ......................................... 44

Annotating Traces .................................................... 44

Dialog Area ............................................................... 46

Touch Screen Controls ............................................. 46

Actions for Trace Buttons ......................................... 51

Message Bar ............................................................. 52

Turning on Channels and Traces ................................... 52

Timebase ...................................................................... 54

Timebase Overview .................................................. 54

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Timebase Setup and Control .................................... 54

Sampling Modes ........................................................... 55

Sampling Modes Overview ....................................... 55

Selecting a Sampling Mode ....................................... 55

Single-shot Sampling Mode ...................................... 55

Basic Capture Technique .......................................... 55

Sequence Display Modes .......................................... 58

Sequence Mode Setup .............................................. 59

Zooming Segments in Sequence Mode .................... 61

Displaying an Individual Segment ............................. 62

Viewing Time Stamps ................................................ 63

RIS Sampling Mode - For Higher Sampling Rates ..... 63

Roll Mode .................................................................. 64

Vertical ......................................................................... 66

Adjusting Sensitivity and Position ............................. 66

Adjusting Sensitivity .................................................. 66

Adjusting the Waveform's Position .......................... 66

Coupling .................................................................... 67

Overload Protection ................................................. 67

Setting Coupling ........................................................ 67

Probe Attenuation .................................................... 67

Setting up Probe Attenuation ................................... 67

Bandwidth Limits ...................................................... 68

Setting Bandwidth Limits .......................................... 68

Linear and (SinX)/X Interpolation ............................. 69

Interpolation Setup ................................................... 69

Inverting Waveforms ................................................ 69

Finding Scale ............................................................. 69

Using Find Scale ........................................................ 69

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Variable Gain ............................................................ 69

Enabling Variable Gain ............................................. 70

Channel Deskew ....................................................... 70

Channel Deskew Setup ............................................. 70

Trigger .......................................................................... 71

Trigger Overview ...................................................... 71

Trigger Types ............................................................ 71

Edge .......................................................................... 72

Width ........................................................................ 72

Pattern (Logic) .......................................................... 72

Smart ........................................................................ 72

Measurement ........................................................... 74

TV ............................................................................. 74

MulitStage ................................................................ 75

Serial Trigger ............................................................ 76

Trigger Settings ........................................................ 76

Trigger Setup ............................................................ 77

Optimize for HF ........................................................ 81

Width Condition is.................................................... 82

Holdoff by Time or Events ........................................ 82

Auxiliary Input Trigger .............................................. 84

TriggerScan ............................................................... 85

Training TriggerScan ................................................. 86

Starting TriggerScan ................................................. 87

Saving TriggerScan Setups ........................................ 88

Viewing Waveforms ..................................................... 88

Display ...................................................................... 88

Display Overview ...................................................... 88

Display Setup ............................................................ 89

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Moving Traces from Grid to Grid .............................. 92

Displays Containing Masks........................................ 92

Dual Display Grid Selection ....................................... 93

Persistence ................................................................ 94

Persistence Overview ............................................... 94

Persistence Setup ..................................................... 94

WaveStream Display Mode ...................................... 96

Adjusting Trace Intensity .......................................... 96

Zooming Waveforms .................................................... 97

Zooming Waveforms Overview ................................ 97

Previewing Zoomed Waveforms ............................... 98

Zooming a Single Channel ......................................... 98

Touch-and-Drag Zooming ....................................... 100

Turning Off Zoom .................................................... 101

Measuring with Cursors ..............................................102

Measuring with Cursors Overview.......................... 102

Cursor Measurement Icons .................................... 102

Cursors Setup .......................................................... 103

Quick Display .......................................................... 103

Absolute Cursors Setup .......................................... 103

Setting Up Relative Cursors .................................... 104

Cursors on Math Functions ..................................... 104

Measurement Parameters ..........................................105

Measurement Parameters Overview ..................... 105

Turning On Parameters ........................................... 105

Quick Access to Parameter Setup Dialogs .............. 105

Parameter Setup ..................................................... 106

Measure Modes ...................................................... 108

Standard Vertical Parameters ................................. 108

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Standard Horizontal Parameters ............................ 108

Selecting Measure Modes ...................................... 108

Help Markers .......................................................... 108

Help Markers Setup ............................................... 110

Measurement Parameter Analysis ............................. 111

Measurement Parameter Analysis Overview ........ 111

Creating and Viewing a Histogram ......................... 113

Single Parameter Histogram Setup ........................ 114

Viewing Thumbnail Histograms (Histicons) ........... 118

Persistence Histogram ........................................... 119

Persistence Trace Range ........................................ 120

Persistence Sigma .................................................. 120

Creating and Viewing a Trend ................................ 120

Creating a Track View ............................................. 121

Pass-Fail Parameter Testing ................................... 122

Pass/Fail Parameter Testing Overview .................. 122

Testing and Enabling Pass/Fail Conditions ............. 123

Pass/Fail Setup on Qx Dialogs ................................ 124

The Actions Dialog .................................................. 128

Math ........................................................................... 131

Math Traces and Functions Overview .................... 131

Math Setup ............................................................. 132

Mask Testing .............................................................. 134

Creating a Mask...................................................... 134

Quick Access to Pass/Fail Setup Dialogs ................ 136

Removing a Mask from the Display ....................... 136

Right-Hand Dialogs ................................................. 137

WaveScan Overview ................................................... 139

Signal Views ............................................................ 140

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Search Modes ......................................................... 140

Parameter Measurements ...................................... 141

Sampling Mode ....................................................... 141

Customization Overview .............................................142

Documenting Your Work Using LabNotebook .............144

LabNotebook Overivew .......................................... 144

LabNotebook .......................................................... 145

Save/Recall..................................................................149

Save/Recall Overview ............................................. 149

Saving and Recalling Setups .................................... 150

Saving Oscilloscope Setup(s)................................... 150

Recalling Oscilloscope Setup(s) .............................. 150

Recalling Default Settings ....................................... 151

Saving and Recalling Waveforms ............................ 152

Saving Waveforms .................................................. 152

Recalling Waveforms .............................................. 155

Utilities ........................................................................157

Utilities Setup .......................................................... 157

Utilities Overview.................................................... 157

Utilities .................................................................... 157

Status ...................................................................... 159

Remote Communication ......................................... 159

Printing and Hardcopy Functions ........................... 161

Aux Output .............................................................. 169

Date and Time ......................................................... 171

Options ................................................................... 172

Disk Utilities ............................................................ 172

Preferences ............................................................. 174

Preference Setup Overview .................................... 174

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Preferences ............................................................ 174

Acquisition .............................................................. 175

E-Mail ..................................................................... 177

Color ....................................................................... 179

Miscellaneous ........................................................ 180

System Recovery Tool ................................................ 180

Restoring Software Using the Acronis Application 180

Restarting the Application ..................................... 184

Restarting the Operating System ........................... 184

Reference ................................................................... 185

WaveRunner 6 Zi Specifications ............................. 185

CERTIFICATIONS ..................................................... 185

CE Declaration of Conformity................................. 185

EMC Directive ......................................................... 185

Low-Voltage Directive ............................................ 186

UL and cUL.............................................................. 187

Contact LeCroy for Support .................................... 188

Windows® License Agreement ............................... 202

Index .......................................................................... 203

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Welcome

Thank you for purchasing a LeCroy product. We're certain you'll be
pleased with the detailed features so unique to our instruments.

This WaveRunner 6 Zi Online Help file may be accessed from your
oscilloscope with the intention of Operator's Manual usage. Sections can
be printed and the file itself can be saved to a USB memory device.

The information/content in this help file is arranged in the following
manner:

WaveRunner 6 Zi Features

First, we cover the hardware and software features of your instrument in
the following sections:

 Hardware
 Basic Controls
 Probe and Signal Connection Interfaces
 Display Dashboard
 Turning on Channels and Traces

Core Oscilloscope Functions

This section covers the core functions of LeCroy oscilloscopes.

Compatible Options and Accessories

Subsequent sections demonstrate the related Options and Accessories
available for your product.

Reference

The Reference section is set aside and covers items like Technical

Support contact information and Safety Requirements. The LeCroy

website at www.lecroy.com always maintains the most current
specification information. The website should always be checked for
frequent updates.

Support

When your product is delivered, verify that all items on the packing list or
invoice copy have been shipped to you.

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Contact your nearest LeCroy customer service center or national
distributor if anything is missing or damaged. If there is something
missing or damaged, and you do not contact us immediately, we cannot
be responsible for replacement.

Thank You

We truly hope these materials provide increased comprehension when
using LeCroy's fine products.

Sincerely,

David C. Graef

LeCroy Corporation
Vice President and Chief Technology Officer

Safety Requirements

This section contains information and warnings that must be observed to
keep the instrument operating in a correct and safe condition. You are
required to follow generally accepted safety procedures in addition to
the safety precautions specified in this section.

Safety Symbols

Where the following symbols appear on the instrument’s front or rear
panels, or in this manual, they alert you to important safety
considerations.

This symbol is used where caution is required. Refer to the
accompanying information or documents in order to protect against
personal injury or damage to the instrument.

This symbol warns of a potential risk of shock hazard.

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This symbol is used to denote the measurement ground connection.

This symbol is used to denote a safety ground connection.

On (Supply). This is the AC mains connect/disconnect switch at the back
of the instrument (if provided).

Off (Supply). This is the AC mains connect/disconnect switch at the back
of the instrument (if provided).

This symbol shows that the switch is a Standby (power) switch located on
the front of the oscilloscope. Pressing this button toggles the
oscilloscope’s state between operating and Standby mode. This switch is
not a disconnect device. The instrument can only be placed in a complete
Power Off state by flipping the main power switch on the rear of the
instrument (if provided) to the off (Zero) position or by removing the
power cord. In cases where no main power switch is provided, removing
the main power cord is the disconnect device.

This symbol is used to denote Alternating Current.

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CAUTION
The CAUTION sign indicates a potential hazard. It calls attention to a

procedure, practice or condition which, if not followed, could possibly
cause damage to equipment. If a CAUTION is indicated, do not proceed
until its conditions are fully understood and met.

WARNING
The WARNING sign indicates a potential hazard. It calls attention to a

procedure, practice or condition which, if not followed, could possibly
cause bodily injury or death. If a WARNING is indicated, do not proceed
until its conditions are fully understood and met.

CAT I

Installation (Overvoltage) Category rating per EN 61010-1 safety
standard and is applicable for the oscilloscope front panel measuring
terminals. CAT I rated terminals must only be connected to source
circuits in which measures are taken to limit transient voltages to an
appropriately low level.

Operating Environment

The instrument is intended for indoor use and should be operated in a
clean, dry environment. Before using this product, ensure that its
operating environment is maintained within these parameters:

Temperature: 5 to 40 °C.
Humidity: Maximum relative humidity 80 % for temperatures up to 31 °C

decreasing linearly to 50 % relative humidity at 40 °C (or at the upper
operational temperature limit).

Altitude: Up to 10,000 ft (3,048 m) at or below 25 °C.

Note: Direct sunlight, radiators, and other heat sources should be taken

into account when assessing the ambient temperature.

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WARNING

The oscilloscope must not be operated in explosive, dusty, or wet
atmospheres.

CAUTION

Protect the oscilloscope's display touch screen from excessive impacts
with foreign objects.

CAUTION

Do not exceed the maximum specified front panel terminal voltage
ratings. Refer to Specifications for more details. The specifications for
maximum allowable voltages are located on a label on the front of the
oscilloscope.

Safety Certification

The design of the instrument has been verified to conform to applicable
EN 61010-1, UL 61010-1 2nd Edition and CSA C22·2 No·61010-1-04 safety
standards for the following limits:

 Installation (Overvoltage) Categories II (Mains Supply Connector)

& I (Measuring Terminals).

 Pollution Degree 2.
 Protection Class I.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

 Installation (Overvoltage) Category II refers to local distribution

level, which is applicable to equipment connected to the mains
supply (AC power source).

 Installation (Overvoltage) Category I refers to signal level, which is

applicable to equipment measuring terminals that are connected
to source circuits in which measures are taken to limit transient
voltages to an appropriately low level.

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 Pollution Degree 2 refers to an operating environment where

normally only dry non-conductive pollution occurs. Conductivity
caused by temporary condensation should be expected.

 Protection Class 1 refers to grounded equipment, in which

protection against electric shock is achieved by Basic Insulation
and by means of a connection to the protective ground conductor
in the building wiring.

Cooling

The instrument relies on forced air cooling with internal fans and
ventilation openings. Care must be taken to avoid restricting the airflow
around the apertures (fan holes) on any side of the oscilloscope. For
sides and rear apertures, ensure adequate ventilation by leaving the
required 10 cm (4 inch) minimum gap around the sides and rear of the
instrument. For bottom apertures, the oscilloscope feet (up or down)
provide adequate clearance. Ensure at least the minimum feet clearance
is achieved as paper or light objects can be drawn to and obstruct the
opening(s).

CAUTION

Do not block oscilloscope ventilation holes. For models with bottom
apertures, always keep items like sheets of paper clear of the
oscilloscope bottom.

The instrument also has internal fan control circuitry that regulates the
fan speed based on the ambient temperature. This is performed
automatically after start-up with no manual intervention required.

CAUTION

Do not allow any foreign matter to enter the oscilloscope through the
ventilation holes, etc.

AC Power Source

100 to 240 VAC (+/-10%) at 45-66 ; 100-120 VAC at 380-420 Hz;
Automatic AC voltage selection; Installation Category: 300V CAT II

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No manual voltage selection is required because the instrument
automatically adapts to line voltage.

Power Consumption

Power Consumption (Nominal): 400 Watts (400 VA)
Max Power Consumption (with all PC peripherals, active probes connected to 4
channels, and MSO active): 500 Watts (500 VA)
Power consumption (in Standby Mode): 15 Watts

Power and Ground Connections

The instrument is provided with a 10A/250V 18AWG rated grounded
cord set containing a molded three-terminal polarized plug and a
standard IEC320 (Type C13) connector for making line voltage and safety
ground connections. The AC inlet ground terminal is connected directly
to the frame of the instrument. For adequate protection against
electrical shock hazard, the power cord plug must be inserted into a
mating AC outlet containing a safety ground contact. Ensure that the
disconnect device is readily accessible.

WARNING - Electrical Shock Hazard

Only use the power cord provided with your instrument.

Any interruption of the protective conductor inside or outside of the
oscilloscope, or disconnection of the safety ground terminal creates a
hazardous situation. Intentional interruption is prohibited.

In Standby mode, the oscilloscope is still connected to the AC supply. The
instrument can only be placed in a complete Power Off state by flipping
the main power switch on the rear of the instrument (if provided) to the
off (Zero) position or by removing the power cord. In cases where no
main power switch is provided, removing the main power cord is the
disconnect device.

CAUTION

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Always use the Power Switch or File → Shutdown command in the
software to properly shut down your instrument.

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Never substitute this practice by pulling the instrument power cord from
the socket or shutting down a connected power strip.

CAUTION

The outer conductors of the front panel BNC or ProBus terminals for all

input channels are connected to the instrument’s chassis and therefore

to the safety ground.

Standby (Power) Switch and Oscilloscope Operational
States

On some models, the Standby (Power) switch controls the operational
state of the oscilloscope. This toggle switch is activated by momentarily
pressing and releasing it.

Also on certain models, the color of the LED below the switch indicates
the status of the oscilloscope as follows:

 On (LED Green)* – oscilloscope is fully powered and operational
 Standby (LED off)* – oscilloscope is powered off (except for some

housekeeping circuits)

 Standby (LED Blinks Green) – oscilloscope’s computer subsystems

(hard drive, etc.) are in Standby (reduced Power mode). All other
oscilloscope subsystems are fully powered.

* Factory Settings

The oscilloscope’s factory settings result in only two basic oscilloscope

states: On or Standby. In the case of Standby, the oscilloscope is
powered off with the exception of some housekeeping circuitry. The
oscilloscope can only be placed in a complete power off state by flipping
its main power switch to the Off (zero) position, or by unplugging the
instrument’s power cord from the primary power source (AC outlet). It is
recommended that the power cord be unplugged from the AC outlet if
the oscilloscope is not being used for an extended period of time.

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Changes can be made to the oscilloscope's original factory settings via
the Power Options Properties menu in Windows under Control Panel →
Power Options. A Windows Power Option named Standby provided

control of only the oscilloscope’s computer subsystems (CPU, hard drive,

etc.) and did not affect the other subsystems within the oscilloscope. In
general, these other subsystems remain fully powered. For additional
information on setting these Power Options, see the Windows Help
menu or other related technical documentation. In terms of control
buttons, this oscilloscope uses only a power button/switch and therefore
references to a sleep button are not applicable.

The oscilloscope can always be placed in the Standby state (LED Off) –
Power Off (except for some housekeeping circuits) by pressing and
holding in the Standby toggle switch for approximately 5 seconds.

CAUTION

Hibernate mode is not supported by the Power button. Therefore,
Windows® Power Options must not be changed from the default Never
setting to System Standby or System Hibernate modes.

CAUTION

Always use the Power Switch or File → Shutdown command in the
software to properly shut down your instrument. Never substitute this
practice by pulling the instrument power cord from the socket or
shutting down a connected power strip.

Calibration

The recommended calibration interval is one year. Calibration should be
performed by qualified personnel only.

Cleaning

Clean only the exterior of the instrument, using a damp, soft cloth. Do
not use chemicals or abrasive elements. Under no circumstances allow
moisture to penetrate the instrument.

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Avoid electrical shock hazard by unplugging the power cord from the AC
outlet before cleaning.

WARNING - Electrical Shock Hazard

 No operator serviceable parts inside.
 Do not remove covers.
 Refer servicing to qualified personnel.

Abnormal Conditions

Operate the instrument only as intended by the manufacturer.

If you suspect the oscilloscope’s protection has been impaired,

disconnect the power cord and secure the instrument against any
unintended operation.

The oscilloscope’s protection is likely to be impaired if, for example, the

instrument shows visible damage or has been subjected to severe
transport stresses.

Proper use of the instrument depends on careful reading of all
instructions and labels.

WARNING

Any use of the oscilloscope in a manner not specified by the
manufacturer may impair the instrument’s safety protection.

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Hardware

Front Panel

Numbered labels on this image correspond with descriptions on the
following table.

Number and Description

1. Power Button

2. Channel Inputs

3. EXT Input and

AUX Output
connectors

4. Ground

Connector and
Probe
Calibration Hook

5. USB Connections

and LeCroy Bus
Port

6. Front Panel

7. Rotating

Display Release
Switch

8. Touch Screen

Stylus

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Rotating and Tilting the Display

The display panel allows for Rotation and Tilting adjustments. These
adjustments allow you to position your instrument with unmatched
versatility.

Rotate and Tilt your display using the following instructions:

Note: Your oscilloscope should always be firmly planted on a solid
supporting surface at all times.

ROTATING THE DISPLAY

Rotate the display by firmly grasping the left side of the display. Use your
thumb to push upward on the release switch (on the front-left side of the
display), and then use your wrist to forcibly rotate the display in an
upward, clockwise twisting motion until the display locks into portrait
position.

Rotating the display from landscape (horizontal) to portrait (vertical)

positioning.

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The user interface then adjusts its layout from landscape (horizontal) to
portrait (vertical). This setup is ideal for viewing high-amplitude signals.

The Rotating Display shown in portrait layout position.

Reverse the process by grasping the now upper side of the display. Again,
use your thumb to push upward on the release switch; but, now use your
wrist to forcibly rotate the display in a downward, counter-clockwise
twisting motion until the display locks back into landscape position.

The user interface then adjusts the layout back from portrait (vertical) to
landscape (horizontal).

TILTING THE DISPLAY

The display can be tilted (while in either Landscape or Portrait mode)
into Upward or Downward positioning for convenience.

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Tilt the display by firmly grasping the far left side of the display and the
far right side of the front panel. Use your wrists to forcibly tilt the display
by pushing the upper-portions forward (to tilt upward) or the lower­portions backward (to tilt downward) until the desired positioning is
reached.

Tilting the display by pushing the upper-portions of the display/front panel

forward - tilting the display from downward to upward positioning.

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I/O Panel

The I/O Panel is located on the right side (facing) of the instrument as
follows:

Note: A LeCroy Bus (LBUS) connection is located on the Front Panel (on
page 13).

Numbered labels on the following I/O Panel image correspond with
descriptions on the following table.

Number and Description

1. USB488

Connection

2. USB A

Connections

3. Ethernet Port

4. Microphone

Connection

5. Speaker

Connection

6. Line In

Connection

7. External VGA

Monitor
Connection

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Note: Contact a system administrator when connecting to any internal

LAN.

Back Panel

The AC Power Plug is located on the back panel of your instrument.

Note: The WaveRunner 6 Zi has a removable hard drive option. Contact
your LeCroy representative for details using Contact LeCroy for
Support (on page 188).

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Basic Controls

Hardware and Software Controls

The following Basic Control topics cover the general usage of the
hardware buttons located on the oscilloscope's front panel and the
screen control interface elements of the software.

Front Panel Controls

Note: Many front panel controls directly correspond with screen layout
controls. For example, the Print front panel general control button
corresponds with the Hardcopy function at Utilities → Utilities Setup
→ Hardcopy.

The following picture shows the front panel.

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Front Panel Groupings

The front panel is divided into sections based on various functions. The
following topics explain these sections in more detail.

Miscellaneous Setup Controls and WaveStream Indicator

This topmost section of the front panel provides the following functions:

 Touch Screen - By default this button's blue backlit LED is ON and

the touch screen is enabled. By pressing this button and turning
off the LED, the touch screen is then disabled.

 Print - Press this button and it automatically executes the based

on the settings you've made as described in Printing and
Hardcopy Functions (on page 161).

You can set the oscilloscope to automatically spool directly to a
printer, to a file, an email (with attachment), or to the clipboard.

 Scope Setup - Press once and the Scope Setup flyout menu is

shown. The Scope Setup flyout menu quickly provides access to

Auto Setup, C1 Find Scale, C2 Find Scale, C3 Find Scale, C4 Find
Scale, and Default Setup buttons. These functions perform various

automatic setup configurations to your instrument. This
corresponds to the Auto Setup... selection on the menu bar from
the Vertical, Timebase, or Trigger menus.

Press the Auto Setup... button on the flyout menu to perform a
full auto setup. Press a Channel Find Scale button on the flyout
menu to perform a quick auto setup for that channel only. Press
the AUTO SETUP... front panel button twice to perform the last
selection from the Auto Setup... flyout menu (the default is to
perform a full auto setup).

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If Auto Setup is run when no channels are turned on, all channels
are affected. When more than one channel is turned on, the first
channel with a signal applied to it is automatically set up for edge
triggering.

Perform an autosetup of all these functions together by pressing
the Auto Setup... front panel button.

 Clear Sweeps - Press to clear data from multiple sweeps

(acquisitions) including: persistence trace displays, averaged
traces, parameter statistics, and Histicons. During waveform
readout, cancels readout. This is the same as pressing Clear

Sweeps on the Measure → Measure Setup... or Math → Math
Setup dialogs.

 WaveStream - Indicates when WaveStream mode is ON. Refer to

WaveStream Mode (on page 96) for more information.

 Intensity - Press to toggle between WaveStream OFF and ON for

Analog Persistence and WaveStream ON for Color Persistence.
When you turn the knob, if WaveStream is ON, the WaveStream
display intensity changes. When you turn the knob, if WaveStream
is OFF, changes the Intensity setting. Corresponds with the screen
menu selection: Display → Display Setup (on page 89).

Trigger Front Panel Controls

 Level - Press to toggle between 50% trigger level and the previous

level setting. Turn to change the trigger threshold level. This level
is indicated on the Trigger label.

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 READY and TRIG'D Indicators - The READY indicator is lit when the

trigger is armed. TRIG'D is lit momentarily when a trigger occurs. A
fast trigger rate causes the light to stay lit continuously.

 Setup - Press once to open the Trigger Setup... dialog.

Corresponds with screen menu selection: Trigger → Trigger

Setup.... Press the Trigger SETUP front panel button again to close

the Trigger Setup... dialog.

 Trigger Scan - Pressing the Trigger Scan button opens the

TriggerScan dialog to help you quickly find rare waveform glitches
and anomalies.

 Source - This button directly selects through the available Source

field values (C1, C2, C3, C4, Dig, EXT, and Line) usually accessed on
the Setup section of the main Trigger dialog.

 Slope - This button directly selects through the available Slope

field values (Positive, Negative, or Either) usually accessed on the
Setup section of the main Trigger dialog.

 Coupling - This button directly selects through the available

Coupling field values - DC, AC, LFR (Low-Frequency Rejection), or

HFR (High-Frequency Rejection) - usually accessed on the Setup
section of the main Trigger dialog.

 Auto - Press to turn on Auto Trigger mode, which triggers the

oscilloscope after a time-out, even if the trigger conditions are not
met.

 Normal - Press to turn on Normal Trigger mode, which triggers

the oscilloscope each time a signal is present that meets the
conditions set for the type of trigger selected.

 Single - Press to turn on Single Trigger mode, which arms the

oscilloscope to trigger once (single-shot acquisition) when the
input signal meets the trigger conditions set for the type of trigger
selected. If the scope is already armed, it will force a trigger.

 Stop - Press to prevent the scope from triggering on a signal. If

you boot up the instrument with the trigger in Stop mode, a no
trace available message is shown. Press the Trigger AUTO front
panel button to display your trace.

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Horizontal Front Panel Controls

Note: Horizontal front panel controls can be applied to signals, Math,
Zoom, or Memory traces. See Math, Zoom, and Memory Indicators
and Controls (on page 24) for more information.

 Delay - Press to toggle between a zero horizontal delay value and

the previous horizontal delay value. Turn to change the horizontal
delay value.

 Time/Div - Turn to set the time/division of the oscilloscope

timebase (acquisition system). When using this Horizontal control
on a Math, Zoom, or Memory trace, you can press this button to
toggle between fixed and variable adjustments. Turn the knob to
change the value.

Vertical Front Panel Controls

Note: Vertical front panel controls can be applied to signals, Math,
Zoom, or Memory traces. See Math, Zoom, and Memory Indicators
and Controls (on page 24) for more information.

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 Channels - The channel buttons (1 - 4 and Digital) control both

channel ON/OFF and which channel is active for the Vertical Offset
and Volts/Div knobs controls. If a channel is OFF, pressing that
channel button turns it on and makes it active. If a channel button
is ON, pressing that channel button makes it active, and then
pressing it a second time turns it OFF.

 Offset - Press to toggle between a zero vertical offset value and

the previous vertical offset value for the selected channel. Turn to
change the vertical offset value for the selected channel.

 Gain - Press to toggle between fixed and variable gain adjustment.

Turn to change the gain value.

Math, Zoom, and Memory Indicators and Controls

 When pressed, the Zoom automatically creates a Zoom trace of all

active channels. Math and Memory traces must first be enabled
on their respective dialogs in Math → Math | Memory Setup... for
use by the front panel controls.

 When Math, Zoom, or Memory traces are enabled - see Math →

Math | Zoom | Memory Setup..., respectively - the corresponding
indicator light illuminates and the Horizontal and Vertical controls
specifically control the Math, Zoom, or Memory trace.

 The Push - Variable function on the Time/Div front panel control

for Horizontal only applies to Math, Zoom, or Memory traces and
not Channels. Press the button to toggle between fixed and
variable adjustments or turn the knob to change the value.

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The WavePilot Control Area and The SuperKnob

THE WAVEPILOT CONTROL AREA AND THE SUPERKNOB OVERVIEW

The WavePilot Control Area contains buttons that correspond to specific
functions.

These function buttons are used together with the SuperKnob to provide
increased instrument control at your fingertips.

The SuperKnob is a joystick-like knob in the center of the WavePilot
Control Area used to make selections or provide specific values.

The SuperKnob shown on the WavePilot Control Area.

SuperKnob Field Control and the Adjust Help Flyout Menu

Whenever you access a non-text entry or file browsing control on a
dialog, the Adjust Help Flyout menu is shown.

The Probe Attenuation control value being changed using the SuperKnob.

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Control values can be adjusted using the touch screen, a connected
mouse, or by use of the SuperKnob. Turning the SuperKnob moves
through available control values and, as indicated by the Help Flyout
menu, pressing the SuperKnob provides Toggle Variable functionality;
meaning, fine and coarse adjustments (if available for the particular
control) may be selected for use.

The WavePilot Control Area provides powerful control of Cursors,
Decode, WaveScan, History, LabNotebook, and Spectrum by their
respective function buttons on the front panel. Based on the function
button selected, additional functions are then available on the
SuperKnob.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:



Not all functions have a function assigned to each (or any) left,
right, up, or down SuperKnob control. Some only have one or

two controls. Deactivated SuperKnob control directions are
shown as un-labeled and grayed-out on respective Help Flyout
menus.



The name of the current mode being used is shown vertically on
the left side of the Help Flyout menu.



When a function button is pressed and the SuperKnob control
changes, a corresponding clearly-labeled, Help Flyout menu
indicates additional functions available when using the
SuperKnob to joystick in left, right, up, or down directions.

The Table Mode Help Flyout menu for the Spectrum Function button.

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

Some models have Table and Zoom LED indicators along with
Adjust. Others have only an Adjust LED with Zoom and Table

buttons containing backlit LEDs.

ZOOM AND TABLE BUTTONS

The Zoom and Table buttons may (or may not) provide additional control
for a specific WavePilot funciton you have selected.

Zoom Button

With the Zoom button selected (for a function that has the Zoom
control) you can twist the SuperKnob dial to adjust the zoom value for

your displayed waveform.

Table Button

With the Table control selected (for a function that has the Table control)
you can joystick up or down to Page Up or Down through the table
results. You can also twist the SuperKnob dial to sequentially navigate
each row of the table results.

The remaining topics in this section provide more detail when operating
specific function buttons on the WavePilot Control Area and when using
the SuperKnob.

CURSORS

Use the SuperKnob to adjust Cursors by pressing the Cursors function
button. Once pressed, the Cursors Help Flyout menu is shown.

Note: For more information about the use of Cursors, see Measuring
with Cursors (on page 102).

Horizontal, Off, and Vertical
Pressing the Cursor Function button moves through states for Horizontal

Absolute, Horizontal Relative, Vertical Absolute, Vertical Relative, and
Off.

LED's surrounding the SuperKnob provide visual indication of cursor
status as follows:

 When opposing LED's (Top/Bottom and Left/Right) are lit, the

cursors are in a Relative state.

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 When no LED's surrounding the SuperKnob are lit, the cursors are

in an Absolute or Off state.

Using the SuperKnob with Cursors

The SuperKnob joystick is used for cursor control while in Horizontal and
Vertical states in the following manner:

 Horizontal - Cursors Help Flyout menu is shown with instructions

for left and right joystick use of the SuperKnob described as
Leftmost and Rightmost. When either is selected, you can twist
the SuperKnob to adjust the respective cursor.

 Vertical - Cursors Help Flyout menu is shown with instructions for

left and right joystick use of the SuperKnob described as Topmost
and Bottommost. When either is selected, you can twist the
SuperKnob to adjust the respective cursor.

 Pushing the SuperKnob button changes the cursor control from

the two available states with the added state of tracking (moving
the pair together in parallel).

 You can force cursors to swap identities in the event where one is

adjusted past the level of its other extreme. Meaning, if you were
to adjust a bottommost cursor above its respective topmost
cursor, the bottommost would then become the topmost and vice
versa.

Note: Zoom and Table buttons are not used for Cursors.

DECODE

When first pressing the Decode function button, the Serial Decode dialog
is shown. Subsequent presses of the Decode function button produce the
following results:

 If you haven't enabled a Decode signal, it Closes the Serial Decode

dialog.

 If you have enabled a Decode signal, it Closes the Serial Decode

dialog and disables the Decode signal.

 If you have enabled a Decode signal, and the Serial Decode dialog

is closed or a different dialog is currently opened (say, the Zoom
dialog), the Serial Decode dialog is Opened.

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Zoom and Table Buttons for Decode
The Zoom and Table buttons are used as described in The WavePilot

Control Area and The SuperKnob Overview (on page 25). Decode tables

are shown beneath the main display area.

WAVESCAN

When first pressing the WaveScan function button, the WaveScan dialog
is shown with table data showing in a column to the left of the main
display area. Subsequent presses of the WaveScan function button
produce the following results:

 WaveScan is turned On and you click Close on the WaveScan

dialog or open a different dialog (say, the Zoom dialog), and then
click the WaveScan function button, the WaveScan dialog is
Opened.

 WaveScan is turned Off and the WaveScan dialog is Closed.

Zoom and Table Buttons for WaveScan
The Zoom and Table buttons are used as described in The WavePilot

Control Area and The SuperKnob Overview (on page 25).

HISTORY

When first pressing the History function button, the History dialog is
shown with table data showing in a column to the left of the main display
area. Subsequent presses of the History function button produce the
following results:

 History is turned On and you click Close on the History dialog or

open a different dialog (say, the Zoom dialog), and then click the
History function button, the History dialog is Opened.

 History is turned Off and the History dialog is Closed.

On the History dialog, a Capacity control is provided.

Note: A default value for the Capacity control is generated based on
your instrument's specific Acquisition Memory Setting (it also varies
based on specific setups, configurations, and settings at any given
time).

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Zoom and Table Buttons for History
The Zoom and Table buttons are used as described in The WavePilot

Control Area and The SuperKnob Overview (on page 25).

LABNOTEBOOK

When first pressing the LabNotebook function button, the LabNotebook
dialog is shown. The button toggles between opening and closing the
LabNotebook dialog - unless you already have LabNotebook entries
stored. With LabNotebook entries already stored subsequent presses of
the LabNotebook function button:

 opens the LabNotebook dialog and your first My Notebook Entry

is shown on the display area in Preview mode.

 closes the LabNotebook dialog and the My Notebook Entry

preview.

Using the SuperKnob with LabNotebook

As mentioned, with LabNotebook entries already stored a subsequent
press of the LabNotebook function button shows the preview along with
the dialog. You can then turn the SuperKnob to move through entries
shown in My Notebook Entries on the LabNotebook dialog. Pushing the
SuperKnob performs a Flashback (Recall) of the stored entry selected in
the My Notebook Entries on the LabNotebook dialog.

Note: Zoom and Table buttons are not used for LabNotebook.

SPECTRUM

When first pressing the Spectrum function button, the Spectrum dialog is
shown with table data showing in a column to the left of the main display
area. Subsequent presses of the Spectrum function button produce the
following results:

 Spectrum Analysis is turned Off and the SpectrumAnalyzer dialog

is Closed.

 Spectrum Analysis is turned On and you click Close on the

SpectrumAnalyzer dialog or open a different dialog (say, the Zoom
dialog), and then click the Spectrum function button, the
SpectrumAnalyzer dialog is Opened.

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Zoom and Table Buttons for Spectrum
Zoom and Table buttons are used as described in The WavePilot Control

Area and The SuperKnob Overview (on page 25). In addition, a

spectrum-specific Table control functionality Centers the Frequency of
your displayed waveform when the SuperKnob is pressed based on the
particular Frequency row you have selected from the Spectrum table
displayed to the left of the main display area.

The Table Help Flyout menu for the Spectrum Function button.

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Probe and Signal Connection
Interfaces

Probe and Signal Connection Interfaces
Overview

LeCroy oscilloscopes are equipped with a variety of connection interfaces
to allow connection of cables directly to the oscilloscope channels, or to
allow probe connections to the oscilloscope. When probes are
connected, a probe interface is used to power the probe (as necessary),
to recognize the probe type and its characteristics, and to communicate
to and from the probe to completely integrate the probe with the
oscilloscope channel in a number of ways. For instance, active single­ended and differential voltage probes and current probes use these
interfaces upload gain and offset correction factors from the probe
EEPROM's and, in some cases, automatically compensates responses to
achieve fully-calibrated measurements.

Some oscilloscope product series support multiple probe and connection
interfaces. This can be an advantage when the highest speed signal on a
design requires the use of a high-bandwidth oscilloscope, yet it is also
highly desired to view other low-speed signals in conjunction with the
highest-speed signals so as to debug or analyze a complicated embedded
design. An example would be a high-speed serial data interface, such as
PCIe, that may interoperate with low-speed signals, such as I2C or power
supply lines. In this case, the multiple connection interfaces in a single
high-bandwidth oscilloscope would allow connection of passive voltage
probes, current probes, and high-bandwidth differential probes without
the use of additional adapters that cost extra money and may be easily
lost or misplaced. Multiple probe and connection interfaces also provide
users the ability to connect two probes to the circuit on a single channel
and switch between them without disconnecting and re-connecting
probes from the circuit. This function is remotely programmable allowing
the interface to operate like a switch, and the ability to select four out of
eight inputs provides unheard of connection flexibility.

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Note: AUX INPUT and AUX OUTPUT connections are also typically
located on the Front Panel. Refer to the Auxiliary Output Signals (on
page 169) topic for Auxiliary Output dialog details.

Probe Interfaces

Probe Interfaces Overview

LeCroy oscilloscopes utilize one or more proprietary probe interfaces
providing a complete measurement solution from probe tip to
oscilloscope display. Compared to standard BNC and Probe Ring
interfaces, this intelligent interconnection between your instrument and
the probe or accessory eliminates the guesswork and errors that occur
when probe settings are made manually, and also offers the following
important signal fidelity advantages:

 Upon connection to the oscilloscope channel, the probe is

recognized and some setup information, such as input coupling
and attenuation, is performed automatically.

 System (probe plus oscilloscope) gain settings are automatically

calculated and displayed based on the probe attenuation.

 Active probes typically provide automatic matching of probe to

oscilloscope response using probe response data stored in an on­board EEPROM. This ensures the best possible combined probe
plus oscilloscope channel frequency response without requiring
the user to perform any de-embedding procedure.

Probe interfaces differ in bandwidth, so the interfaces contained on your
oscilloscope depend on the bandwidth rating of the oscilloscope model
you purchased.

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Note: The lowest bandwidth oscilloscopes contain only a BNC and

perhaps a Probe Ring interface; whereas, the highest bandwidth
oscilloscopes may contain every type of probe interface LeCroy
supports.

A LeCroy Zi series oscilloscope showing the four sets of ProBus/ProLink probe

interfaces. Zi oscilloscopes are compatible with all LeCroy probes.

The following figure shows a typical channel setup dialog on a LeCroy
oscilloscope containing both ProLink (Input A, Upper) and ProBus (Input
B, Lower) interfaces. The input selection is on the left-hand side of the
dialog box. In this case the A input, the ProLink interface is selected.
When the probe is not connected, there is only a C1 tab selection for
vertical channel setup and the user has the ability to select input
coupling and probe attenuation.

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The channel dialog layout showing Input A's ProLink interface controls setup

before connection.

When a probe is connected, it is recognized and an additional tab with
the probe model name is displayed to the right of the C1 tab.

The channel dialog layout showing Input A's ProLink interface controls setup

after connection.

This additional tab contains specific information on the connected
probe. In addition, default values for the probes coupling and
attenuation (which may not be changed) are automatically downloaded
from the probe, and these settings along with other attributes are shown
on the corresponding probe dialog.

The dialog showing the connected probe's control attributes.

ProBus Probe and Cable Connecting Interface

The ProBus interface contains a 6-pin power and communication
connection and a BNC signal connection to the probe. It offers both 50

Ω/1 MΩ input impedance and provides probe power and control for a

wide range of probes such as high impedance passive probes, high
impedance active probes, current probes, high voltage probes, and
differential probes. ProBus also includes sense rings for detecting passive
probes. The ProBus interface may also have a BNC-terminated cable
connected directly to it.

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ProBus is based on a BNC connector and, depending on the exact BNC
connector used and the oscilloscope design, is rated for up to 4 GHz with

50 Ω coupling or up to 1 GHz for 1 MΩ coupling (depending on the exact

model purchase).

Probes

LeCroy offers a variety of passive and active probes for use with your X­Stream oscilloscope. Visit www.lecroy.com for specifications and
ordering information.

 Current Probes - Current Probes measure the current passing

through a wire; current probes do not use the traditional probing
style of placing a tip onto a test point. Instead, a wire is placed
inside the jaw of the probe, which allows the probe to measure
the current (in Amps).

 Active Probes - There are two different types of active probes:

single-ended and differential.

Single-Ended - A single-ended active probe is associated with
measuring voltages at high frequencies. Measurement with an
active probe requires a test point and a ground point. The ground
(also called earth) acts as a zero reference for the test point
measurement.

Differential Probes - Differential active probes are like two probes
in one. Instead of measuring a test point in relation to a ground
point (like single-ended active probes), differential probes
measure the difference in voltage of a test point in relation to
another test point.

 Passive Probes - Passive probes measure voltages at lower

frequencies (<500 MHz). They have higher input capacitance
(input C) and do not need power to operate (unlike active probes).
At higher frequencies, higher input capacitance loads the test
circuit, attenuating the signal. This is why active probes are used in
high frequency applications. Passive probes also measure voltage
in reference to ground.

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 High Voltage Probes - These are active, single-ended probes

designed to safely measure high voltages. They measure the
voltage in reference to ground.

Passive Probe Compensation

Passive probes must be compensated to flatten overshoot. This is
accomplished by means of a trimmer at the connector end of the probe.

1. Attach the connector end of your passive probe to any channel.

2. Connect the probe end to the CAL output connector at the front of

the oscilloscope. Ground the probe.

3. Adjust the trim pot at the connector end of the probe until the

square wave is as flat as possible.

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Display Dashboard

Display Dashboard Overview

This section covers the various aspects of the user interface shown in the
display of your instrument.

Screen Layout, Groupings, and Controls

The instrument's screen is divided into the following main sections:

 Menu Bar
 Signal Display Grid
 Descriptor Labels
 Dialog(s)
 The Message Bar

Note: Many front panel controls directly correspond with screen layout
controls. For example, the Print front panel general control button
corresponds with the Hardcopy function set from Utilities → Utilities
Setup → Hardcopy.

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Menu Bar

The top of the screen contains a menu bar of commonly used functions.
Whenever you touch one of these buttons and make a selection from its
drop-down menu, the dialog area at the bottom of the screen displays
the corresponding dialog.

Specific Menu Bar functions are referenced using arrow-separated path
descriptions. For example, the Save Setup function is referenced as File

→ Save Setup....

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

For common oscilloscope operations, you don’t need to use the top
menu bar (since you can access most dialogs from the Front Panel or
from the Descriptor Labels). However, it is the only way to access setup
or other dialogs for Display Setup, Save or Recall Waveform, Save or

Recall Setups, Print Setup, Vertical (Channel), Horizontal, or Trigger
Status, Memory (Reference Waveform) Setup, Pass/Fail Setup, or

Utilities and Preferences Setup....

The Quick Access Toolbar

The Quick Access portion of the toolbar is located on the right side of the
menu bar. It contains the Rotate Display button.

When the display is rotated, touch this button to adjust the user
interface to a portrait layout. The button toggles from portrait layout
back to landscape.

For additional information on rotating and tilting the display, refer to
Hardware and Software Controls (on page 19).

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The Signal Display Grid

The grid area is divided into 8 vertical divisions and 10 horizontal
divisions just like any other oscilloscope. Set up the signal display area by
touching Display → Display Setup... from the menu bar. The Display
dialog offers a choice of grid combinations and can also set the grid
intensity.

There are several indicators on the grid to help you understand the
following:

 Trigger Delay - This indicator is located along the bottom edge of

the grid. Trigger delay allows you to see the signal prior to the
trigger time.

All trigger delay values (including post-trigger delay, shown here)
are displayed in the Timebase Descriptor Label. Zero delay is the
horizontal center of the oscilloscope display.

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The default setting (Time) is for delay readout (in seconds) and to
move proportionately when the timebase knob is turned. If you
want to set delay (Div) to a fixed position on the grid, and then
have it stay fixed as the timebase changes, go to Utilities →
Preference Setup... and select the Acquisition dialog to make the
setting.

 Post-trigger Delay - This is indicated by a left-pointing arrow to

the lower-left of the grid. Pre-trigger delay is indicated by a right­pointing arrow to the lower-right of the grid.

 Trigger Level - This indicator is located at the right edge of the

grid. It tracks the trigger level as you reposition the trace up or
down, or change scale. When triggering is stopped, a hollow arrow
indicates where the new level ends up when triggering resumes.

Push the LEVEL knob to reset the level to 50%.

 Zero Volts Level - This indicator is located at the left edge of the

grid. Change the zero volts level by turning the vertical OFFSET
knob. Push the knob to reset the indicator to the middle of the
grid.

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Signal Display Grid Pop-Up Menu

On the Signal Display Grid, the Pop-up menu provides assistance while
using the oscilloscope.

Clicking on a waveform opens a pop-up menu. From this pop-up menu,
you can perform the following functions:

 Open the Setup dialog for the trace
 Turn the trace descriptor label off
 Open the Math dialog for the trace
 Open the Measure dialog for the trace
 Annotate the selected trace

Trace Descriptor Labels

Shown just beneath the grid display, these boxes provide a summary of
your channel, timebase, and trigger settings.

When a trace is selected its corresponding descriptor label is shown
highlighted.

The C1 Trace Descriptor Label is selected; C2 is not.

Make vertical or horizontal channel adjustments by touching the
respective label. The setup dialog for the function is shown beneath.

Channel trace labels show the vertical settings for the trace and cursor
information (if cursors are in use). The title bar of the label includes
indicators for (SinX)/X interpolation, waveform inversion (INV), deskew
(DSQ), coupling (DC/GND), bandwidth limiting (BWL), and averaging
(AVG).

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These indicators have a long and short form, respectively.

The long and short forms of trace descriptor indicators.

Besides channel traces, math and parameter measurement labels are
also displayed. Labels are displayed only for traces that are turned on.

Vertical and horizontal trace descriptor (labels) are displayed below the
grid. They provide a summary of your channel, timebase, and trigger
settings. Make vertical or horizontal channel adjustments by touching
the respective label. The setup dialog for the function is shown beneath.

TimeBase trace descriptor labels show the trigger delay setting, time per
division, and sampling information.

Trigger trace descriptor labels show the trigger mode (Auto, Normal, or

Stopped). It also shows the coupling (DC), trigger type (Edge), source
(C1), level (0 mV), and slope (Positive).

Setup information for horizontal cursors, including the time between
cursors and the frequency, is shown beneath the TimeBase and Trigger
trace descriptor labels.

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Actions for Trace Buttons

You can access the same functions as the ones produced when using the
Signal Display Grid Pop-Up menu just by clicking a trace-descriptor label,
which shows its corresponding dialog. From the respective dialog, you're
able to access the same functions as Actions for Trace X buttons.

 Open the Setup dialog for the trace.
 Open the Math dialog for the trace.
 Open the Measure dialog for the trace.
 Annotate the selected trace.

For more information, see the Actions for Trace Buttons section of Dialog
Area (on page 46).

Annotating Traces

The instrument gives you the ability to add an identifying label, bearing
your own text, to a waveform display:

For each waveform, you can create multiple labels and turn them all on
or all off. Also, you can position them on the waveform by dragging or by
specifying an exact horizontal position.

Touch the waveform you want to annotate right on the display grid, and
then touch Set label... on the pop-up menu. A dialog box opens in which
to create the label.

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If you are creating a label for the first time for this waveform, Label1 is
displayed as default text when the Add label button is clicked.

From this pop-up you can edit existing annotations, change the label

placement on the waveform, add labels, remove labels, and toggle the
visibility. The following bullets show you how.

 If you are modifying an existing label, under Labels touch the label

you want to change.

Note: If the dialog for the trace you want to annotate is
currently displayed, you can touch the label button at the
bottom to display the Trace Annotation setup dialog.

You may place a label anywhere you want on the waveform.
Labels are numbered sequentially according to the order in
which they are added, and not according to their placement on
the waveform.

 If you want to change the label's text, touch inside the Label Text

field. A pop-up keyboard appears for you to enter your text. Touch
O.K. on the keyboard when you are done. The edited text
automatically appears in the label on the waveform.

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 Precisely place the label by touching inside the Horizontal Pos.

field and provide a horizontal value, using the pop-up numeric
keypad.

 Add another label by touching the Add label button. Delete a label

by selecting the label from the list, and then touching the Remove
label button.

 Make labels visible by touching the View labels checkbox.

Dialog Area

The lower portion is where information is shown, selections are made,
and data is input. Typically they are organized into tabular displays,
subtabs, or pop-up dialogs. The dialog area is controlled by Touch Screen
Controls and Front Panel Controls (on page 19).

Touch Screen Controls

Various touch screen user interface controls are provided for easily
entering data. Their functionality is described in this topic and you'll see
them referenced throughout the documentation.

POP-UP SELECTOR CONTROLS

When Pop-Up selector controls are touched, sometimes a very small box
is shown right inside the control - as in the following control for Coupling
on the C1 dialog.

Pop-Up Selector Control for smaller values.

Other times, a larger box is shown after touching a control.

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This larger Pop-Up has categorical buttons along the left column along
with labels (and sometimes descriptions) for the selectable entry values.

Pop-Up Selector Control for values with varied types.

TEXT ENTRY CONTROLS

Most controls can be touched once and you can then provide a value
using an attached (or double-touch/click to use the Virtual, on-screen)
keyboard.

Text entry field for LabNotebook using the Virtual Keyboard.

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FOLDER/FILE BROWSING CONTROLS

These controls allow for navigation to or from folders (on the hard drive
or memory device) for retrieving or storing items such as waveforms,
LabNotebook entries, to name a few.

Folder/File Browsing recall waveform controls.

Note: The instrument's hard disk is partitioned into drive C: and drive
D:. Drive C: contains the Windows operating system and the instrument

application software. Drive D: is intended for data files.

FLYOUT MENU CONTROLS

Flyout Menus provides a variety of solutions for a particular main area of
functionality. It does this by providing a set of buttons subdividing the
control into more specific functions on the right-side of the display.

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An example of Flyout Menu Controls is seen in the Setup front panel
button.

Setup Flyout Menu control.

PRECISION DATA ENTRY CONTROLS

Certain fields requiring precise value entry assist you by having precision
entry means. When these controls are selected, you can provide values
as follows:

Keyboard

Touch inside a text entry control and you can manually type the value in
using an attached (or double-touch/click to use the Virtual, on-screen)
keyboard.

Text entry field for LabNotebook using the Virtual Keyboard.

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Slider Bar

Some models provide what is known as a Slider Bar along the bottom of
the screen when a keyboard is attached to the instrument. The Slider
Bar allows you to select your entered value by moving a horizontal slider
(left to right provides low to high amounts).

The Slider Bar

Pop-Up Keypad

Some models provide a pop-up Keypad when you touch twice in the
same control. A keypad button is also provided on the slider bar (on
models that have the slider bar) which shows the pop-up keypad when
touched.

For many controls, once the Pop-Up Keypad is shown the Front Panel
Controls (on page 19) can be used to adjust the value in the pop-up. The
Pop-Up contains Up and Down arrow buttons, Set to Max, Default, and
Min buttons, and the Keypad itself for providing your value.

The slider bar also has a handy default value button for quickly entering
the default for the control.

Default and Keypad Buttons on the Slider Bar (only shown on 7 and 8 Zi
models with a keyboard attached.

The WaveRunner 6 Zi provides touch-screen interface control in a
different manner. See The WavePilot Control Area and The SuperKnob
Overview (on page 25) for more information.

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Actions for Trace Buttons

Several dialogs contain common functions accessible from a row of
buttons that can save you a step or two when using a particular function
(instead of accessing the respective location from the menu bar or the
Signal Display Grid Pop-Up Menu).

For example, at the bottom of the Channel Setup dialog, these buttons
(sometimes labeled as Actions) perform the following functions:

 Measure - Opens the Measure menu. You can then select a

parameter from this menu without leaving the Channel Setup
dialog. The parameter automatically appears below the grid.

 Zoom - Creates a zoom trace of the channel trace whose dialog is

currently displayed.

 Math - Opens the Math menu. You can then select a math

function from this menu without leaving the Channel Setup dialog.
A math trace of the channel whose dialog is currently open is
automatically displayed.

 Decode - Opens the main Serial Decode dialog where protocol

option measurements can be applied to signals.

 Store - Loads the channel trace into the next available memory

location (M1 to M4).

 Find Scale - Automatically performs a vertical scaling that fits the

waveform into the grid.

 Next Grid - Automatically moves the channel trace whose dialog is

currently open onto the next grid. If you have only one grid
displayed, a new grid will be created automatically, and the trace
moved.

 Label - Enables you to attach identifying labels to your waveforms.

The labels are preserved when the waveform is saved as a
LabNotebook entry and when saved to file.

 Probe Cal - Cable Deskew - Opens the Probes Cal. dialog where

various Gain, Offset, Skew, Source, and Advanced controls are
available for probe signal calibration.

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Another example is seen in the buttons appearing at the bottom of the
Measure Px dialogs. The button may be selected in order to display the
functions named on the buttons (sometimes labeled as Actions):

Actions for Trace buttons on the Cx dialog.

Using these buttons allow you to remain in the Measure dialog while
setting up a Math trace on a parameter measurement.

Message Bar

At the bottom of the oscilloscope display is a narrow message bar. The
current date and time are displayed at the far right. Status, error, or
other messages are also shown in this area.

Turning on Channels and Traces

Note: If you want to display each trace on its own grid automatically,
enable Autogrid by touching Display → Autogrid from the menu bar.

 On the front panel, press a channel select button to display the

trace label for that input channel and turn on the channel.

 Turn on a math function trace by touching Math → Math Setup...

from the menu bar. Touch the corresponding On checkbox to
activate the desired trace.

 You can also quickly create traces (and turn on the trace label) for

math functions and memory traces, without leaving the Vertical
Adjust dialog, by touching the icons at the bottom of the Vertical
Adjust dialog.

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Whenever you turn on a channel, math, or memory trace using either
the menu bar or trace descriptor label, the dialog at the bottom of the
screen automatically switches to the vertical setup or math setup dialog
for that selection.

You can configure your traces from here, including math setups.

The Trace Dialog is shown on the lower (dialog) portion of the screen.
The tab is labeled with the corresponding channel number as follows:

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Timebase

Timebase Overview

You can access Timebase settings using the front panel Horizontal
controls, the Timebase → Horizontal Setup... on the menu bar, or by
touching the Timebase trace descriptor label. The Timebase dialog is
then shown.

Timebase Setup and Control

1. With the Timebase dialog showing, touch inside the Time/Division

data entry control and provide a value using your preferred input
control method - for more information regarding the touch screen
controls, refer to Dialog Area (on page 46).

2. Touch inside the Delay data entry control and provide a value.

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Sampling Modes

Sampling Modes Overview

Depending on your timebase, you can choose Single-shot Sampling
Mode (below), also known as Real Time mode, Sequence Sampling
Mode (on page 56), or RIS Sampling Mode (on page 63) mode sampling.

Some instruments also offer Roll Mode (on page 64).

Selecting a Sampling Mode

1. Touch Timebase → Horizontal Setup... from the menu bar.

2. In the Timebase dialog, touch a Sample Mode button.

3. If you chose Sequence Mode, touch the Sequence tab. The

Sequence dialog is shown. Use the following controls to provide
details for controls such as Number of Segments, Enable Timeout,

Timeout (value), Display Mode, and Show Sequence Trigger
Times.

Single-shot Sampling Mode

Basic Capture Technique

A single-shot acquisition is a series of digitized voltage values sampled on
the input signal at a uniform rate. It is also a series of measured data
values associated with a single trigger event. The acquisition is typically
stopped a defined number of samples after this event occurs: a number
determined by the selected trigger delay and measured by the timebase.
The waveform's horizontal position (and waveform display in general) is
determined using the trigger event as the definition of time zero.

You can choose either a pre- or post-trigger delay. Pre-trigger delay is the
time from the left-hand edge of the display grid forward to the trigger
event, while post-trigger delay is the time back to the event. You can
sample the waveform in a range starting well before the trigger event up
to the moment the event occurs.

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This is 100% pre-trigger, and it allows you to see the waveform leading
up to the point at which the trigger condition was met and the trigger
occurred. (The instrument offers up to the maximum record length of
points of pre-trigger information.) Post-trigger delay, on the other hand,
allows you to sample the waveform starting at the equivalent of 10,000
divisions after the event occurred.

On fast timebase settings, the maximum single-shot sampling rate is
used. But for slower timebases, the sampling rate is decreased and the
number of data samples maintained.

The relationship between sample rate, memory, and time can be simply
defined as:

Capture Interval = 1/Sample Rate X Memory

and

Capture Interval/10 = Time Per Division

Sequence Sampling Mode – Working with
Segments

Using Sequence Mode, thousands of trigger events can be stored as
segments into the oscilloscope's memory (the exact number depends on
oscilloscope model and memory options). This is ideal when capturing
many fast pulses in quick succession or when capturing few events
separated by long time periods. The instrument can capture complicated
sequences of events over large time intervals in fine detail, while
ignoring the uninteresting periods between the events. You can also
make time measurements between events on selected segments using
the full precision of the acquisition timebase.

Sequence mode offers a number of unique capabilities:

 You can acquire up to four channels simultaneously.
 You can minimize dead time between trigger events for

consecutive segments.

 You can view time stamps for acquisitions.
 You can zoom segments or used them as input to math functions.

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 You can combine sequence mode with an advanced trigger to

isolate a rare event, capture all instances over hours or days, and
view/analyze each afterwards.

 You can use Sequence mode in remote operation to take full

advantage of the instrument's high data-transfer capability.

In Sequence mode, the complete waveform consists of a number of
fixed-size segments acquired in single-shot mode (see the instrument
specifications for the limits). The oscilloscope uses the sequence
timebase setting to determine the capture duration of each segment as
10 x time/div. With this setting, the oscilloscope uses the desired number
of segments, maximum segment length, and total available memory to
determine the actual number of samples or segments, and time or
points.

How the instrument captures segments

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Sequence Display Modes

The instrument gives you a choice of five ways to display your segments:

 Adjacent

 Waterfall (cascaded)

 Mosaic (tiled)

 Overlay

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 Perspective

Note: some display modes have limitations on the number of segments

that can be shown at one time.

Sequence Mode Setup

When setting up Sequence Mode, you define the number of fixed-size
segments acquired in single-shot mode (see the instrument
specifications for the limits). The oscilloscope uses the sequence
timebase setting to determine the capture duration of each segment.
Along with this setting, the oscilloscope uses the number of segments,
maximum segment length, and total available memory to determine the
actual number of samples or segments, and time or points.

Setting up Sequence Mode (Adjacent)

1. Touch Timebase → Horizontal Setup... on the menu bar.

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2. Click the Sequence tab.

3. Under Acquisition Settings, touch inside the Num Segments data

entry control and provide a value using your preferred input
control method - for more information regarding the touch screen
controls, refer to Dialog Area (on page 46).

Note: The number of segments you choose to display can be less
than the total number of segments in the waveform. For
example, in the pop-up images above, the number of display
segments is 10, but the total number of segments entered in the
timebase dialog's Num Segments control is 100.

4. Touch the Enable Timeout checkbox.

5. Touch inside the Timeout data entry control and provide a

timeout value.

Note: Use the sequence mode timeout to automatically interrupt the
sequence acquisition if the timeout value is exceeded without a valid
trigger. The timeout period accounts for instances when a Num
Segments miscount occurs for some reason and the oscilloscope waits
indefinitely for an unforthcoming segment. During that time, no
oscilloscope functions are accessible. By means of a timeout value,
however, the acquisition will be completed, the waveform displayed,
and control of the oscilloscope returned to the user after the timeout
has elapsed.

5. Under Display Settings, touch inside the Display mode control,

and select a sequence mode display from the pop-up menu.

6. Touch the SINGLE trigger front panel button.

Note: Once a single acquisition has started, you can interrupt
the acquisition at any time by pressing the SINGLE front panel
button a second time or by pressing the STOP front panel button.
In this case, the segments already acquired will be retained in
memory.

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Zooming Segments in Sequence Mode

You can zoom individual segments easily using the QUICKZOOM front
panel button. When you zoom, the zoom traces default to Segment 1.
Channel descriptors indicate the total number of segments acquired.
Zoom descriptors indicate [Seg #] and #Segments in the Zoom. You can
scroll through the segments using ZOOM front panel position knob.

Sample Zoom of Segments in Sequence Mode

1. Touch the front panel Quickzoom button.

2. Turn the ZOOM front panel position knob to scroll through the

segments.

3. To vary the degree of zoom, touch the newly created Zx trace

label. The setup dialog for the zoom (Z1 to Z4) opens. It shows the
current horizontal and vertical zoom factors.

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4. If you want to increase or decrease your horizontal or vertical

zoom in small increments, touch the Var. checkbox to enable
variable zooming. Now with each touch of the zoom control
buttons, the degree of magnification changes by small increments.

OR

If you want to zoom in or out in large standard increments with
each touch of the zoom control buttons, leave the Var. checkbox
unchecked.

OR

If you want to set exact horizontal or vertical zoom factors, touch
inside the Horizontal Scale/div data entry control and enter a
time-per-div value, using the pop-up numeric keypad. Then touch
inside the Vertical Scale/div control and enter a voltage value.

Displaying an Individual Segment

1. Touch Math → Math Setup... on the menu bar.

2. Touch a function tab Fx showing its corresponding dialog.

3. On the dialog, touch inside the Operator1 control and select the

Segment button from the pop-up menu.

4. In the dialog on the right, touch the Select tab.

5. Touch inside the First Selected data entry control and select the

first segment you want to display. Use the same method to
provide a value in the Number of Selected data entry control.

Note: In Persistence mode, the segments are automatically overlaid
one on top of the other in the display. In non-Persistence mode, they
appear separately on the grid.

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Viewing Time Stamps

You can view time stamps for each segment.

View Segment Time Stamps

1. Touch Timebase → Acquisition Status on the menu bar.

OR
Touch Vertical → Channel Status on the menu bar.

2. Touch the Trigger Time tab.

3. Under Show Status For, touch the Time button.

4. Touch inside the Select Segment control and enter a segment

number value (you can also touch the arrow buttons to scroll
through segment times).

RIS Sampling Mode - For Higher Sampling Rates

RIS (Random Interleaved Sampling) is an acquisition technique that
allows effective sampling rates higher than the maximum single-shot
sampling rate. It is used on repetitive waveforms with a stable trigger.
The maximum effective RIS sampling rate is achieved by making multiple
single-shot acquisitions at maximum real-time sample rate. The bins thus
acquired are positioned approximately 5 ps (200 GS/s) apart.

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The process of acquiring these bins and satisfying the time constraint is a
random one. The relative time between ADC sampling instants and the
event trigger provides the necessary variation.

The instrument requires multiple triggers to complete an acquisition. The
number depends on the sample rate: the higher the sample rate, the
more triggers are required. It then interleaves these segments (in the
following graphic) to provide a waveform covering a time interval that is
a multiple of the maximum single-shot sampling rate. However, the real­time interval over which the instrument collects the waveform data is
much longer, and depends on the trigger rate and the amount of
interleaving required.

Note: RIS mode is not available when the oscilloscope is operating in
fixed sample or DBI 25 - 45 GHz) modes as covered in Smart Memory

(available in the online help files) and Combining Channels topics,
respectively.

Roll Mode

Roll mode displays, in real time, incoming points in single-shot
acquisitions that have a sufficiently low data rate. The oscilloscope rolls
the incoming data continuously across the screen until a trigger event is
detected and the acquisition is complete. The parameters or math
functions connected to each channel are updated every time the roll
mode buffer is updated, as if new data is available. This resets statistics
on every step of Roll mode that is valid because of new data.

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Note: If the processing time is greater than the acquire time, the data
in memory gets overwritten. In this case, the instrument issues a
Channel data is not continuous in ROLL mode!!! warning and rolling
starts over again.

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Vertical

Adjusting Sensitivity and Position

You can make adjustments to both the sensitivity ad the positioning of
displayed waveforms.

Adjusting Sensitivity

1. Press the appropriate channel push button (channel 1, for

example).

OR
Touch Vertical → Channel 1 Setup... from the menu bar.

2. Touch inside the Trace On checkbox to display the trace.

3. Turn the VERTICAL GAIN front panel knob for the selected channel.

OR
Touch inside the Volts/Div field and enter a value. Click the
keypad button to enter a value using the pop-up keypad, or use
the up/down arrows.

The set voltage is shown on the trace descriptor label and in the
Volts/Div field in the dialog.

Adjusting the Waveform's Position

Turn the VERTICAL OFFSET adjust front panel knob directly above the
channel button whose waveform you want to move vertically. Or you can
touch inside the Offset field and type in a value on the pop-up keypad.
To set the vertical offset to zero, touch the Zero Offset button directly
below the Offset field.

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Coupling

The choices of coupling are as follows:

 DC 50 Ω
 GROUND
 DC 1 MΩ
 AC 1 MΩ

Overload Protection

The maximum input voltage depends on the input used. Values are
displayed on the front of the oscilloscope. Whenever the voltage exceeds
this limit, the coupling mode automatically switches from DC 50 Ω to

GROUND. You then have to manually reset the coupling to DC 50 Ω,

described in the steps to follow.

CAUTION

While the unit does provide this protection, damage can still occur if
extreme voltages are applied.

Setting Coupling

1. Touch Vertical → Channel X Setup... from the menu bar.

2. Touch inside the Coupling control and select a coupling mode

from the pop-up menu.

Probe Attenuation

Setting up Probe Attenuation

LeCroy's ProBus system automatically senses probes and sets their
attenuation for you. If you want to set the attenuation manually,

1. In the menu bar, touch Vertical, and then select a channel from

the drop-down menu.

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2. Touch inside the Probe Atten. data entry control and provide a

value using your preferred input control method - for more
information regarding the touch screen controls, refer to Dialog
Area (on page 46).

3. Now, touch a divide-by menu selection

OR
Touch Var (variable). If you choose Var, type in a value.

Bandwidth Limits

Reducing the bandwidth also reduces the signal and system noise, and
prevents high-frequency aliasing.

Setting Bandwidth Limits

Set bandwidth limits as follows:

1. In the menu bar, touch Vertical, and then select a channel from

the drop-down menu.

2. Touch inside the Bandwidth control and provide a Bandwidth

Limit value using your preferred input control method - for more
information regarding the touch screen controls, refer to Dialog
Area (on page 46). Bandwidth filters are available at the following
levels:

WaveRunner - 1 GHz, 200 MHz, and 20 MHz.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

 Each oscilloscope contains only the Full selection and those

bandwidths less than the rated oscilloscope bandwidth.

 Anti-aliasing filters are applied to limit bandwidth at lower sample

rates, regardless of bandwidth limit selection.

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Linear and (SinX)/X Interpolation

Linear interpolation, which inserts a straight line between sample points,
is best used to reconstruct straight-edged signals such as square waves.
(Sinx)/x interpolation, on the other hand, is suitable for reconstructing
curved or irregular wave shapes, especially when the sample rate is 3 to
5 times the system bandwidth.

Interpolation Setup

1. Touch the button for the channel you want to set up (channel 1,

for example).

2. In the dialog area, touch inside the Interpolation data entry

control under Pre-Processing. Pre-Processing is meant as before
Math processing.

3. Touch inside the Interpolation data entry control. A pop-up menu

appears offering Linear or Sinx/x interpolation. Touch the button
for the desired interpolation type.

Inverting Waveforms

If available on your instrument, touch the Invert checkbox to invert the
waveform for the selected channel.

Finding Scale

You can access the Find Scale button from the channel setup dialog. This
feature automatically calculates peak-to-peak voltage, and chooses an
appropriate Volts/Div scale to fully display the waveform.

Using Find Scale

1. Touch the trace label for the waveform you desire.

2. Touch the Find Scale button.

Variable Gain

Variable Gain lets you change the granularity with which the gain is
incremented. For example, when Variable Gain is disabled, the gain
increases or decreases in preset increments each time you touch the
Up/Down buttons.

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However, when Variable Gain is enabled, you can increase or decrease
the gain in increments as small as 0.1 mV/div, depending on the
waveform scale.

Enabling Variable Gain

1. Touch the descriptor label for the waveform whose gain you want

to vary.

2. Touch the Variable Gain checkbox.

Channel Deskew

Unlike the Deskew math function, channel Deskew does no resampling,
but instead adjusts the horizontal offset by the amount that you enter.
The valid range is dependent on the current timebase +/- 9 divisions.

Channel Deskew Setup

1. In the menu bar, touch Vertical; from the drop-down menu, select

a channel to set up.

2. Touch inside the Deskew data entry control and provide a value

using your preferred input control method - for more information
regarding the touch screen controls, refer to Dialog Area (on page

46).

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Trigger

Trigger Overview

Triggering is the way an oscilloscope selects an exact moment in time on
a signal to then be shown on the screen. If the pattern of a signal
happens to be repetitive, a continuous waveform pattern is inherently
visible on the display.

But without a regular signal pattern, the oscilloscope requires controls to
determine what specific point in time (when a trigger is met) to show the
signal on the display. This is accomplished and affected in a variety of
ways.

Some trigger settings allow for pre-trigger, post-trigger, and a delay
between the time of the trigger event and the time when the display is
refreshed (or sweeped) and the waveform is again shown on the screen.

The instrument uses many waveform capture techniques that trigger on
features and conditions that you define. These triggers fall into the
following major categories:

 Simple Triggers - activated by basic waveform features or

conditions such as a positive or negative slope, and hold‐off

 SMART Triggers - sophisticated triggers that enable you to use

basic or complex conditions for triggering. Use SMART Triggers for
signals with rare features, like glitches.

 Measurement Trigger - triggers that allow you to leverage

parameter measurements as waveform trigger conditions. A
measurement trigger is either the only trigger or the final trigger
in a chain of trigger events including hardware triggers.

 MultiStage Triggers - varied forms of triggers including Cascaded,

QualFirst, and Qualified allowing varied combinations of triggers

and trigger stages.

Trigger Types

There are a set of standard Trigger Types. These Triggers are basic
waveform features or conditions such as a positive or negative slope, and
hold-off and are available on all oscilloscopes along with tools like
Software Assisted Trigger and Trigger Scan.

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In addition, there are more sophisticated triggers for setting basic or
complex conditions. These include Smart Triggers, Serial Trigger,
Measurement Triggers, and MultiStage Triggers.

Learn more and Contact LeCroy for Support (on page 188).

Edge

A simple trigger, Edge trigger is activated by basic waveform features or
conditions such as positive or negative slope, and holdoff.

Width

Width trigger allows you to define a positive- or negative-going pulse
width bounded by a voltage level, above or below which a trigger will
occur. Or you can specify a pulse width and voltage range, within or
outside of which a trigger will occur.

Pattern (Logic)

Logic trigger enables triggering on a logical combination (pattern) of five
inputs: CH1, CH2, CH3, CH4, and AUX. You have a choice of four Boolean
operators (AND, NAND, OR, NOR), and you can stipulate the high or low
voltage logic level for each input independently.

Smart

These are a specific set of sophisticated trigger types. Smart trigger types
are used to set conditions on signals with rare features, like the glitches
and others as follows:

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WINDOW

A smart trigger occurs when a signal enters or exits a window defined by
adjustable thresholds.

INTERVAL

While Glitch trigger performs over the width of a pulse, Interval trigger
performs over the width of an interval - the signal duration (the period)
separating two consecutive edges of the same polarity: positive to
positive or negative to negative. Use interval trigger to capture intervals
that fall short of, or exceed, a given time limit. In addition, you can define
a width range to capture any interval that is itself inside or outside the
specified range - an Exclusion trigger by interval.

GLITCH

Glitch trigger is a simpler form of Width trigger. Use Glitch trigger when
you want to define a fixed pulse-width time or time range only. Glitch
trigger makes no provision for voltage levels or ranges.

DROPOUT

Used primarily in single-shot applications, and usually with a pre-trigger
delay, Dropout trigger can detect lost signals. The trigger is generated at
the end of the timeout period following the last trigger source transition.

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RUNT

The Runt trigger occurs when a pulse crosses a first threshold line, but
fails to cross a second threshold line before recrossing the first. Other
defining conditions for this trigger are the edge (triggers on the slope
opposite to that selected) and runt width.

SLEW RATE

SlewRate trigger activates a trigger when the rising or falling edge of a
pulse crosses two threshold levels: an upper level and a lower level. The
pulse edge must cross the thresholds faster or slower than a selected
period of time.

Measurement

This trigger type allows you to leverage parameter measurements as
waveform trigger conditions. A measurement trigger is either the only
trigger or the final trigger in a chain of trigger events including hardware
triggers.

TV

Not available on all instruments, TV triggers provide stable triggering on
standard or custom composite video signals. Use them on PAL, SECAM,
NTSC, or HDTV systems.

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MulitStage

Touching this MultiStage trigger type shows the additional MultiStage
types on the dialog. Select from Cascaded, QualFirst, and Qualified as
follows:

CASCADED

The Cascaded trigger allows you to define successive trigger Stages
(referred to as Stage A, B, C, and D) as arm, trigger/arm, trigger/arm,
trigger criteria, respectively.

QUALFIRST

In single trigger mode, QualFirst arms the oscilloscope on the A event,
and then triggers on all subsequent B events.

Note: This button is enabled when using the sequence sampling mode.
It is commonly used in sequence mode for disk drive applications with
the index pulse defined as the A qualifier signal and the servo gate
signal as the B triggering events.

QUALIFIED A-B

In single trigger mode, Qualify A-B arms the oscilloscope on the A event,
and then triggers on the B event. If the oscilloscope is in Normal trigger
mode, it automatically resets after the B event. Arm trigger events can
be set for Edge, Pattern, State, and PatState. State is briefly explained as
follows:

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State

The State trigger is a level-qualified trigger which requires that the
qualifying signal remain above or below a specified voltage level for a
trigger to occur. For State trigger, you specify the time or number of
events after the signal has gone above or below the voltage level when
you want the trigger to occur.

Serial Trigger

Protocol-enabled serial trigger capabilities are available as options on
several oscilloscope models.

Clock and Data Recovery (CDR)

80-bit Serial Trigger (without decode capability) is standard on SDA
model oscilloscopes and optional on WavePro, WaveMaster, and DDA
model oscilloscopes. The CDR feature is optional for the WaveRunner Zi
family, including 8b/10b decode.

Trigger Settings

Horizontal and Vertical adjustments are typically made for all trigger
types using either the Delay or Level knobs on the front panel of the
instrument or their respective controls on the Timebase setup dialog.

 Horizontal: Turn the DELAY knob in the HORIZONTAL control group

to adjust the trigger's horizontal position. Or, touch inside the
Delay control and provide a value on the Timebase dialog using
your preferred input control method - for more information
regarding the touch screen controls, refer to Dialog Area (on page

46).

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The trigger location is shown by a marker under the grid.

Post-trigger delay is indicated by a left-pointing arrow at the
lower-left of the grid.

The time value is given in the title line of the Timebase label at the
lower-right of the grid.

 Vertical: Turn the LEVEL knob in the TRIGGER control group to

adjust the trigger's vertical threshold.

Turn this knob to adjust the level of the trigger source or the
highlighted trace. Level defines the source voltage at which the
trigger will generate an event: a change in the input signal that
satisfies the trigger conditions.

Alternatively, in the Trigger dialog, you can touch inside the Level
control and provide a value using your preferred input control
method - for more information regarding the touch screen
controls, refer to Dialog Area (on page 46). Quickly set a level of
zero volts by touching the Zero Level button.

An arrow on the right side of the grid shows the threshold
position. This arrow is only visible if the trigger source is displayed.

Trigger Setup

Based on your Trigger Type selection, sections of the main Trigger dialog
and additional dialogs altogether vary.

Most trigger types have Type, Setup, and Level selections. The following
sections explain some of the standard setup configurations for different
trigger types.

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1. Make your Type selection by touching the button corresponding

to the desired trigger.

2. Touch inside the trigger Source control for your first Setup

configuration and select a source on which to trigger.

3. If available, touch inside the Coupling control and select a

coupling mode.

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Coupling refers to the type of signal coupling at the input of the
trigger circuit. Choices of trigger coupling vary by oscilloscope
model.

With DC coupling, all of the signal's frequency components are
coupled to the trigger circuit for high-frequency bursts.

4. Touch inside the trigger Slope control and choose the direction of

the trigger voltage transition used for generating a particular
trigger event.

The selection is then shown to the right of the dialog as follows for
a Positive Slope selection on an Edge Trigger.

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Edge trigger works on the selected edge at the chosen level. The slope

(positive or negative) is specified on the Trigger label permanently

shown to the lower-right of the grid.

4. Level defines the source voltage at which the trigger circuit

generates an event (a change in the input signal that satisfies the
trigger conditions). The selected trigger level is associated with the
chosen trigger source. Note that the trigger level is specified in
volts and normally remains unchanged when the vertical gain or
offset is modified.

The Amplitude and Range of the trigger level have limits as
detailed in the datasheet specifications regularly maintained on

www.lecroy.com.

Touch inside the Level data entry control and provide a value
using your preferred input control method - for more information
regarding the touch screen controls, refer to Dialog Area (on page

46).

Provide a voltage level (in millivolts).

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

 Once specified, Trigger Level and Coupling are the only

parameters remaining unchanged as you switch from trigger
mode to trigger mode for each trigger source.

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 Some additional controls and dialogs for triggers that differ are

provided in the following topics as examples.

Optimize for HF

The Optimize for HF checkbox can be used on an Edge trigger to reject
high or low frequencies.

The checkbox is marked by default; meaning, the instrument is optimized
for high-frequency waveforms.

Note: If you are measuring a waveform that is 10 MHz or slower, be
sure to unmark the checkbox to avoid triggering on an incorrect slope.

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Width Condition is

Width triggers (and other triggers equipped with conditional logic) have
conditional logic settings as follows.

Your Width Condition can be specified as Less Than, Greater Than, In

Range and Out Of Range.
In Range and Out Of Range conditions can be further set with Upper and

Lower Values (for Limits).

OR

Nominal width and Delta (for Delta).

Note: Width Condition settings are summarized on the far right of the

dialog.

Holdoff by Time or Events

Holdoff is an additional condition of Edge and Pattern triggers. It can be
expressed either as a period of time or an event count. Holdoff disables
the trigger circuit for a given period of time or number of events after
the last trigger occurred. Events are the number of occasions on which
the trigger condition is met. The trigger resumes when the holdoff has
elapsed and its other conditions are met.

Select the holdoff by touching the Time or Events buttons on the Holdoff
dialog.

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Now, click the corresponding control and provide a value.

Use holdoff to obtain a stable trigger for repetitive, composite
waveforms. For example, if the number or duration of sub-signals is
known you can disable them by choosing an appropriate holdoff value.
Qualified triggers operate using conditions similar to holdoff.

HOLD OFF BY TIME

Sometimes you can achieve a stable display of complex, repetitive
waveforms by placing a condition on the time between each successive
trigger event. This time would otherwise be limited only by the input
signal, the coupling, and the instrument's bandwidth. Select a positive or
negative slope, and a minimum time between triggers. The trigger is
generated when the condition is met after the selected holdoff time,
counted from the last trigger. The delay is initialized and started on each
trigger.

Edge Trigger with Holdoff by Time. The bold edges on the trigger source

indicate that a positive slope has been selected. The broken upward-pointing

arrows indicate potential triggers, which would occur if other conditions are

met. The bold arrows indicate where the triggers actually occur when the

holdoff time has been exceeded.

HOLD OFF BY EVENTS

Select a positive or negative slope and a number of events. An event is
the number of times the trigger condition is met after the last trigger.

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A trigger is generated when the condition is met after this number,
counted from the last trigger. The count is restarted on each trigger. For
example, if the event number is two, the trigger will occur on the third
event.

Edge Trigger with Holdoff by Events (in this example, two events). The bold

edges on the trigger source indicate that a positive slope has been selected.

The broken, upward-pointing arrows indicate potential triggers, while the bold

ones show where triggers actually occur after the holdoff expires.

Auxiliary Input Trigger

Some instrument models provide auxiliary input trigger capability. It's
done as a pattern trigger, on the Ext dialog.

Select X1, or ÷10. You can also select from DC50Ω, Gnd, and DC1MΩ
Impedance values.

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TriggerScan

TriggerScan is a debugging tool (available for any trigger type) that helps
you quickly find rare waveform glitches and anomalies. With TriggerScan,
you can build a list of trigger setups to look for rare events and
automatically sequence through each one. TriggerScan can use any type
of trigger setup available including edge, width, and qualify as well as
Smart Triggers (such as, glitch and runt triggers). TriggerScan automates
two key processes in triggering rare events:

1. Trains the system by looking at normal acquired waveforms.

During the training, the oscilloscope analyzes the waveforms to
determine what waveforms normally look like. Using this
information, it generates a list of smart trigger setups to trigger on
abnormal situations.

2. Loads the smart trigger setups from the Trainer and cycles

through these. As triggers occur, they are overlaid on the screen.
All acquisition settings are preserved and you can use all the
functions of the oscilloscope to find the root cause of these
anomalies including, WaveScan, Histograms, and advanced
analysis.

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Training TriggerScan

The TriggerScan Trainer inspects a currently acquired waveform and
automatically builds a list of common trigger setups used to find rare
events.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

 You must acquire and display at least 3 cycles of a signal before

running the Trainer.

 You should run the Trainer if you want to change the trigger types

or if you change the channel or signal.

1. Touch Trigger → Trigger Setup... from the menu bar.

2. On the Trigger dialog, click the TriggerScan tab.

3. Touch the Trainer button and select a channel as the source for

the training on the Trigger Scan Trainer pop-up. Also choose the
types of triggers the Trainer should use to train the system and
then touch the Start Training button. The training begins. When it
is complete, a list of smart trigger setups is displayed in the Trigger
List.

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Starting TriggerScan

After you have run the Trainer, the Trigger List displays a list of smart
trigger setups. You can add or remove trigger setups. You can also
update the selected smart trigger setup. Once you have made any
changes to the Trigger List, you are ready to start scanning.

1. Touch Trigger → Trigger Setup... from the menu bar.

2. On the Trigger dialog, click the TriggerScan tab and its

corresponding dialog is shown.

3. If you want to add a new trigger setup, touch the Trigger tab and

set the new trigger as desired on the Trigger dialog. Then, back on
the TriggerScan dialog, touch the Add New button to append the
new trigger to the Trigger List.

4. If you want to replace the selected trigger setup with the current

trigger setup, highlight the setup in the Trigger List and touch the
Update Selected button.

5. If you want to shown a specific trigger setup on the Trigger List,

highlight its corresponding row on the list, and then touch the

Load Selected button.

Note: If you want to delete all trigger setups in the Trigger List,

touch the Delete All button.

6. If you want to delete a trigger setup, highlight the setup in the

Trigger List and touch the Delete Selected button.

7. All trigger setups can be deleted regardless of selections on the

Trigger List with one step by touching the Delete All button.

5. Once you have made any changes to the Trigger List, touch the

Trainer button and then restart the scan by touching the Start
Training button on the Trigger Scan Trainer pop-up. The
oscilloscope automatically sequences through all the trigger
setups.

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PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

 You can tune the dwell time that the oscilloscope waits

before loading the next trigger setup using the Dwell Time
data entry control.

 If you have Persistence display mode enabled, all trigger

events are recorded on the display. Refer to the
Persistence Setup (on page 94) topic for instructions on
enabling Persistence display mode.

 If you want TriggerScan to stop when the next oscilloscope

trigger, check the Stop On Trigger checkbox. You can use
this to isolate specific trigger setups.

Saving TriggerScan Setups

You should save TriggerScan setups once you have made any
modifications to the Trigger List. The current Trigger List is not be
preserved after exiting the application unless you save it.

1. On the TriggerScan dialog, touch inside the Setup File Name data

entry control and providing a file name using your preferred input
control method - for more information regarding the touch screen
controls, refer to Dialog Area (on page 46).

OR
Touch the Browse button and select a location and file name.

2. Touch the Save Setup... button.

Note: You can load previously saved TriggerScan setups by touching the

Browse button, locating the file, and then touching Load Setup....

Viewing Waveforms

Display

Display Overview

Oscilloscope display grids present the trace information in a voltage vs.
time format. The oscilloscope analog-to-digital converter (ADC)
information is displayed vertically on the grid with the ADC bits divided
proportionally according to their amplitude on the grid.

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Channel traces are typically 8-bits of vertical data, whereas Math traces
are 16-bits of vertical data. LeCroy grids consist of eight vertical divisions.

When displaying channel traces on the grid, use of less than full-grid
amplitude results in some reduced vertical resolution and accuracy. For
instance, if a channel trace is displayed as two divisions high on a grid,
the number of ADC bits utilized is...

2/8 * 2^8 or 64 bits

This is quite less than the full 8-bit resolution. Such a reduction in vertical
resolution may be acceptable if the primary measurement consideration
is for rough timing measurements; however, if vertical accuracy or
extreme timing accuracy is a requirement, it is better to increase the
amplitude of the signal to utilize close to maximum grid height.
Accomplishing this - while still providing the ability to view many signals
at one time on the oscilloscope display - LeCroy provides multi-grid
capability. This creates multiple oscilloscope grids, each with 8-bit
vertical resolution, and allows many full-resolution grids (but vertically
smaller in grid height) for concurrent display without affecting the
vertical resolution.

Different grid displays are available based on instrument and installed
software packages. For example, some displays show side-by-side,
instead of vertically stacked grids. The additional grid displays offer more
convenient views of multiple waveforms. Refer to your instrument
datasheet at www.lecroy.com for detailed information as to which grid
displays are provided with your oscilloscope.

Display Setup

Access and adjust the different display configurations on our oscilloscope
using the following steps:

Note: Not all grid styles are available on all instruments. Grid styles
vary based on both oscilloscope model and whether or not you have
the SDAII software option loaded on your oscilloscope. Learn more
about software options and Contact LeCroy for Support (on page 188).

1. Touch Display → Display Setup... on the menu bar.

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2. Touch one of the Display combination buttons.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

 Small images label each Display combination button and indicate

its corresponding grid configuration.

 Autogrid automatically adds or deletes grids as you select more or

fewer waveforms to display.

3. Touch inside the Grid Intensity data entry control(as follows).

Provide a value from 0 to 100.